Organisations & Operators,

TUI UK has appointed the nation’s favourite duo, Ant & Dec to bring holiday inspired fun and smiles to Brits. The Geordie pair will share their mischievous plans as they define their new roles as TUI’s ‘Happiness Ambassadors’. 
Launching on the 28th June, the social media campaign will focus on how TUI create ‘happy’ every day. In a cheeky and entertaining way, Ant & Dec brainstorm their new job title, creating the perfect holiday pitch, and dial up the holiday inspo with TUI’s retail agents and cabin crew. 
The social content focuses on the moments customers experience before they step foot overseas; from the planning and booking and just before they jet off, at the airport. Ant & Dec have a lot of fun creating extra happy moments every step of the journey in a surprising and memorable style. 

The campaign, a creative co-production between Ant and Dec’s Mitre Studios and Leo Burnett London, is set to run across TUI’s and Ant and Dec’s social channels from 28thJune for six months. Be sure to follow @antanddec and @tuiuk to find out what they’ve been up to from today. ADVERTISEMENT
Andrew Flintham Managing Director at TUI UK commented: “Ant and Dec are the perfect pair to showcase what our Makers of Happy do every day; delivering the best possible experiences for our customers. The partnership has come at an exciting time for TUI as our customers cannot wait to create amazing holiday memories. It’s brilliant to be working with Ant and Dec as they really are the happiest people on TV and are already sharing some great ideas on how we can bring even more fun to the holiday experience.” 

Ant says: “We have worked successfully with TUI in the past on Saturday Night Takeaway so we were delighted to be invited to become their Happiness Ambassadors and create some fun content around their staff and customers as they plan holidays this year. 

Dec adds: “We have loved working collaboratively with everyone at TUI and getting to know the team even better. We hope what we’ve created brings a smile to people’s faces and spreads a little happiness from the start to the finish of this year’s holidays.”

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The competition, launched around two categories – high school students and undergraduates – attracted applicants from leading educational institutions from across the country. In making their decision, the expert jury looked at the feasibility of the ideas presented by the teams through their social media campaigns as well as on their potential to contribute to the fulfillment of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Celebrating young tourism talent
In the end, eight teams made it to the final, representing the Srednja stručna škola (Team AANSS Tourist), JU Turističko-ugostiteljska škola Tuzla (Team Champions), Mješovita srednja škola Travnik (Team RoseBrandis), JU Mješovita srednja škola “Bosanski Petrovac (Team StazeSrece), JU Centar srednjih škola (Team Tribuni), Faculty of Economics Pale (Team Tusists Economy), Visoka škola za turizam i menadžment Konjic (Team VS-TIM) and University of Business Studies (Team We Grow with Nature).
The winning solutions from Team RoseBrandis from Mješovita srednja škola Travnik and Team Vs-Tim from Visoka škola za turizam i menadžment Konjic included social media campaigns to support rural development on the Via Dinarica in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Students also created synergies between the different teams by becoming film producers and created a video on traditional folk costumes in Rural areas.
The 2023 UNWTO Students’ League: Bosnia and Herzegovina has been organized by UNWTO, under the framework of UNDP BiH “Building Relations for intercultural Dialogue (BRIDGE) Project” which counts on the financial support of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS). The initiative is implemented and co-financed by the United Nations Development Programme in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNDP BiH) in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BiH.ADVERTISEMENTFor this first national edition, the jury panel was made up of national and international experts from UNWTO, UNDP, Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, Ministry of Trade and Tourism of Republika Srpska, Verne Tourism Experts and SISMOTUR.
Youth empowerment for tourism’s future
According to the participants, the Students League offered a unique chance to gain practical experience within the tourism sector while also benefitting from networking and mentorship opportunities.
“This project is a wonderful experience for young people who will be the bearers of tourism in the future, because they study tourism, ecology, economics, which are closely related to the sector,” said Team We Grow with Nature from the University of Business Studies.
“By participating in this project, we learned a lot and discovered various hidden treasures both in our and in other countries. The project helped us get introduced to Instagram and how we can use it in business. Most importantly, we had fun and enjoyed participating in this project,” addedTeam RoseBrandis, from Mješovita srednja škola Travnik
The UNWTO Students League Bosnia & Herzegovina has benefited the support of leading international partners, including representatives from the UNWTO Best Tourism ViIlages Programme –  Cumeada and Krupa Na Vrbasu,  Visit Blidinje, Greenways Association, Verne Tourism Experts, Sismotur, Outdoor Bosnia and the City of Trebinje.

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The African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) and AviaDev Limited (AviaDev) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote and develop cooperation in the African aviation sector, specifically related to route development activities and advocacy for the implementation of the Yamoussoukro Decision (YD) and the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM).
The MoU signifies the commitment of both organizations to enhance their effectiveness in serving the interests of the AFCAC Member States and Stakeholders.AFCAC is a specialist agency of the African Union on all Civil Aviation Matters in Africa and the Executing Agency of the YD/SAATM is responsible for facilitating cooperation and coordination among African States towards the development of integrated and sustainable Air transport system, and foster the implementation of ICAO SARPs by Member States. whereas, AviaDev is a platform dedicated to improving air connectivity to, from, and within the African Continent. AFCAC and AviaDev have a shared objective of promoting a safe, secure, affordable, efficient, and environmentally friendly operating environment in Africa.
Under the terms of the MoU, the Parties will engage in various cooperative activities, including information sharing, events attendance, podcast participation and collaboration at relevant industry events. AFCAC will join the AviaDev Insight Africa podcast regularly to provide updates on the SAATM implementation. AFCAC will also participate in AviaDev Africa’s annual event to engage with aviation stakeholders from across the continent. Similarly, AviaDev will attend relevant AFCAC events to strengthen cooperation in the civil aviation sector.“We are delighted to enter into this MoU with AviaDev Limited. This partnership will enable us to strengthen cooperation and coordination in the civil aviation sector, facilitating the development of an integrated and sustainable Air Transport System in Africa.” Said Adefunke Adeyemi, Secretary General of AFCAC.Jon Howell, CEO of AviaDev Limited, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, “We are excited to work closely with AFCAC to support the growth of air connectivity in Africa. We believe our platform complements the work of AFCAC and this partnership will catalyse the process of realising open skies in Africa.”

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dnata’s culinary demonstration features the world’s first AI-powered robot capable of handling cooking operations in commercial and residential kitchens.
Developed by Moley Robotics, it is able to recreate identical dishes at scale by following pre-recorded chef instructions. It is equipped with multiple sensors and machine learning capabilities, enabling it to precisely measure ingredients and execute complex cooking techniques. The innovative solution ensures consistent quality, high levels of safety, and rapid adaptation to changing parameters in real-time.
Robin Padgett, CEO of dnata Catering & Retail, said: “We are excited to showcase a revolutionary cooking robot alongside our world-class culinary and retail offering at the World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo.
“We are constantly looking for ways to further improve quality and efficiency by leveraging the latest technologies, including artificial intelligence and automation, across our global network. In recent years we have implemented a number of sophisticated solutions to optimise various aspects of our operations, ranging from consumption analysis to ingredient sourcing, inventory and waste management. We will continue to closely monitor trends and further integrate AI into our operations to harness the power of innovation.
“We look forward to meeting and discussing the exciting future of our industry with our partners at our unique stand in Hamburg.”ADVERTISEMENTIn addition to the cooking robot, dnata’s guests can also meet Bella, a hospitality robot, who serves world-class meals and refreshments at WTCE. Bella’s twin bot already resides in the UAE and assists guests at Sharjah Airport’s (SHJ) lounge along with its partner, Kitty. ‘The Lounge’ at SHJ is operated by dnata’s local joint venture, Alpha Flight Services.
dnata’s spacious stand in Hamburg also features a live cooking station, offering visitors world-class culinary experiences. dnata’s senior executives and award-winning chefs from across the globe will be present to engage with customers and partners throughout WTCE.
dnata’s catering and retail division is one of the world’s leading inflight hospitality providers. The company’s 10,500 catering professionals produce over 110 million meals annually, serving full service, low-cost and VIP carriers from more than 60 locations.
Source: https://www.timesaerospace.aero/

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Disneyland Resort is kicking off the summer season with a limited-time ticket offer for California residents who wish to visit again and again. With thrilling adventures, popular attractions, beloved characters and delightful treats, there’s something for everyone to enjoy at the Disneyland Resort. As Disney marks its 100th anniversary this year, Disneyland Resort is celebrating this milestone with special experiences, entertainment and more.
For a limited time, California residents may visit the Disneyland Resort theme parks for as little as $83 per person, per day with this special ticket offer. These 3-Day, 1-Park per day tickets start at $249 for admission Mondays through Thursdays, or as low as $299 ($100 per day) for admission any day – including weekends – for eligible guests. Upgrades such as Park Hopper tickets or Disney Genie+ service are also available. The limited-time tickets are available for purchase beginning June 6, 2023, and California residents may redeem their tickets on any three eligible days from June 12 through Sept. 28, 2023, subject to park reservation availability.* These tickets may be purchased at Disneyland.com, through a travel agent or by calling (866) 572-7321. Valid admission and park reservation for the same park on the same date are required for park entry.
From immersive lands to new attractions and shows, here are several ways the whole family can enjoy this summer at Disneyland Resort. 
Disneyland Park
In the reimagined Mickey’s Toontown, guests will find new, interactive experiences and returning familiar favorites, plus the new attraction Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, where guests of all ages can embark on a zany adventure through the cartoon world of Mickey Mouse on a train engineered by Goofy.Part of the Disney100 celebration at Disneyland Resort, “Wondrous Journeys” is a heartwarming nighttime spectacular that honors 100 years of Walt Disney Animation Studios with nods to every film released by the iconic studio over the past century. Through Aug. 31, 2023, guests can marvel as state-of-the-art projections and fireworks bring beloved stories and characters to life in multiple locations.A lively parade with nine vibrant floats, fashion-forward costumes and upbeat music, “Magic Happens” celebrates moments where magic comes to life with characters from Disney Animation tales including “Frozen 2,” “The Sword in the Stone,” “Moana” and “Sleeping Beauty,” as well as Disney and Pixar’s “Coco.”In Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, guests can embark on missions to aid the Rebellion aboard two exciting attractions, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run. Once their missions are complete, guests can wander the trade outpost on Batuu and perhaps spot some familiar faces including R2-D2, Chewbacca and the Mandalorian and Grogu.Disney California Adventure ParkADVERTISEMENT“World of Color – ONE” – an impressive water show which debuted on Paradise Bay as part of the Disney100 celebration at Disneyland Resort – celebrates how a single action, like a drop of water, creates a ripple that can grow into a wave of change. This is the first Disneyland Resort nighttime spectacular with characters, music and moments from Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, the Avengers and Star Wars in the same production.For a limited-time engagement beginning June 30, 2023, “Rogers: The Musical” will tell the tale of Steve Rogers – Captain America – in an all-new, one-act musical theater production. Performed in the famed Hyperion Theater, the show will feature five original songs, appearances by select members of the Avengers and more.In Avengers Campus, thrill seekers can get their adrenaline pumping on Guardians of the Galaxy — Mission: BREAKOUT! Guests of all ages can help save the land from pesky Spider-Bots on WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure. After a busy afternoon around the campus, guests may encounter favorite Super Heroes such as Spider-Man, Black Widow and Black Panther.From a spin on the Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind to a ride on the high-speed Incredicoaster, there’s something for every member of the family to enjoy at Pixar Pier. In addition to five attractions, guests can dine on playful bites and drinks and perhaps even meet a character from a favorite Pixar story.  Plus, from Sept. 1-Oct. 31, 2023, Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort will bring seasonal décor, bewitching new outfits for Mickey Mouse and his pals, the “Halloween Screams” nighttime spectacular at Disneyland Park and so much more across the resort. From Sept. 1-Nov. 2, 2023, Plaza de la Familia will celebrate the spirit of Día de los Muertos in Disney California Adventure Park with colorful décor, menu items inspired by Mexican cuisine and entertainment featuring characters and songs from Disney and Pixar’s “Coco.”
When hunger strikes, guests can enjoy classic treats like churros, popcorn and Mickey Mouse ice cream bars alongside refreshing sips like cold brews, mint juleps and slushies. Foodies may also want to try limited-time food and beverage offerings from the Foodie Guide to the Disney100 Celebration at Disneyland Resort.

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Jet2.com is giving skiers and snowboarders the chance to grab a piste of the action in the French, Swiss, Austrian and Italian Alps nice and early, after putting its Ski programme on sale from across ten of its UK bases earlier than ever before for Winter 24/25.
After experiencing strong demand from customers wanting to book ahead, the leading leisure airline has put a flurry of seven ski destinations – Chambery, Geneva, Grenoble, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Lyon and Turin earlier than ever. The ski flights have been put on sale from mid-December 2024 to 31st March 2025, representing 34 ski routes and over 60 weekly ski flights during peak periods.
This is the earliest Jet2.com has ever put its Ski programme on sale, with ski flight on sale from ten of its UK bases (Belfast International, Bristol, Birmingham, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Leeds Bradford, Glasgow, Manchester, Newcastle International and London Stansted), and it comes in direct response to strong demand from snow sports fans looking to secure their place on the slopes. The early release of the Ski programme means customers can unlock the slopes well in advance and lock in great-price ski flights for next winter.
Offering a choice of services to many of these sensational ski destinations, the flights provide fantastic flexibility and are perfectly timed for skiers and snowboarders looking to slope off to the snow – whether for a weekend, long weekend, or longer mid-week break.
In addition to this wide choice of destinations, dates and flights, customers booking and travelling on ski flights with Jet2.com get to enjoy VIP customer service which has seen the UK’s third largest airline win numerous awards and accolades. Customers can also enjoy as 10kg hand luggage and 22kg baggage* and 22kg ski carriage* with Jet2.com.ADVERTISEMENTJet2.com’s full Ski programme for Winter 24/25 is as follows:
Chambery – ski flights on sale from five UK bases (Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds Bradford, Manchester and London Stansted), offering quick and easy access to world-famous ski resorts in France, including the Three Valleys. The popular ski areas of the Alpe d’Huez, Chamonix, La Plagne and Val d’Isère are easily accessible from Chambery, providing memorable skiing whether you are a beginner or an expert.Geneva – a huge programme of ski flights on sale from nine UK bases (Birmingham, Bristol, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds Bradford, London Stansted, Manchester and Newcastle International). With 32 weekly flights departing during key times, Geneva offers ski enthusiasts some of the very best ski resorts, including Tignes, Flaine, Verbier, Zermatt and the Three Valleys.Salzburg – ski flights on sale from eight UK bases (Belfast International, Birmingham, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Leeds Bradford, London Stansted, Manchester and Newcastle International). Salzburg opens-up the best of the Austrian Alps and over 300 resorts, including Kaprun, Mayrhofen and Obertauern to skiers.Grenoble – the host of the 1968 Winter Olympics, Grenoble offers the perfect gateway to the French Alps, with over 175 incredible ski resorts nearby, including Morzine, Chamonix, Chamrousse, Les Deux Alpes, Alpe d’Huez and Avoriaz. On sale from Birmingham, London Stansted, Manchester and Newcastle International.Turin – the legacy of Turin’s 2006 Winter Olympics means that skiers can enjoy speedy transfers to well-established skiing resorts, such as Pila, Vars, Le Corbier and Val d’Isere. With 400km of piste at the Milky Way area alongside the stunning mountainous backdrop of the Monterosa network, there is plenty to go at with services available from Birmingham and Manchester.Innsbruck – skiers and snowboarders can access the Tyrolean capital from Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, London Stansted and Manchester. Innsbruck hosted the 1964 Winter Olympics and resorts, such as Igls, Alpbach and St Anton am Arlberg make it a firm favourite with skiers and snow sports fans year in year out.Lyon – with weekly flights on sale from Manchester Airport, snow sports fans have direct access to several major French ski resorts, such as Tignes, Les Arcs and Alpe d’Huez, as well several smaller ski resorts for those looking to get away from the crowds.Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said: “Customers have been telling us how much they want to secure their place on the slopes next winter, so we have responded to that demand by putting a brilliant ski programme on sale for Winter 24/25 nice and early from across ten UK bases. With seven top ski destinations on sale, it means skiers and snowboarders can book ahead and get access to some of the best ski resorts in the world. On top of offering a fantastic choice of flights, we are giving snow sports fans the chance to fly with our award-winning airline and benefit from our VIP customer service. With so many customers wanting to book ahead, we are anticipating the early release of the programme to be extremely popular and are confident of another successful and busy ski season next winter.”
Ski destinations by base for Winter 24/25:
Belfast International Airport – Salzburg (weekly services).Birmingham Airport – Chambery (up to two weekly services), Geneva (up to five weekly services), Grenoble (weekly services), Innsbruck (weekly services), Salzburg (weekly services) and Turin (weekly services).Bristol Airport – Chambery (weekly services), Geneva (weekly services) and Innsbruck (weekly services).East Midlands Airport – Geneva (weekly services) and Salzburg (weekly services).Edinburgh Airport – Geneva (up to two weekly services), Salzburg (weekly services) and Innsbruck (weekly services).Glasgow – Geneva (weekly services).Leeds Bradford Airport – Chambery (weekly services), Geneva (up to seven weekly services) and Salzburg (weekly services).London Stansted Airport – Chambery (up to two weekly services), Geneva (up to seven weekly services), Grenoble (weekly services), Innsbruck (weekly services) and Salzburg (weekly services).Manchester Airport – Chambery (up to three weekly services), Geneva (up to seven weekly services), Grenoble (up to two weekly services), Innsbruck (up to three weekly services), Lyon (weekly services), Salzburg (weekly services) and Turin (weekly services).Newcastle International Airport – Geneva (weekly services), Grenoble (weekly services) and Salzburg (weekly services).

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The International Air Transport Association (IATA), announced that leaders of the global aviation industry are gathering in Istanbul, Türkiye, for the 79th IATA Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit, with Pegasus Airlines as the host airline.
The event (4-6 June) attracts the industry’s most senior leaders from among IATA’s more than 300 member airlines, as well as senior government officials, strategic partners, equipment suppliers, and media.
“In a few days, Istanbul will become the aviation capital of the world. Airlines will meet to review the industry’s recovery from COVID-19, to plan the way forward to a more sustainable future, to discuss the opportunities for technology to drive efficiencies from modern retailing to improved facilitation, and to understand the common regulatory challenges they face. Aviation is important. Connecting the world even as geopolitical divides deepen is a vital mission that requires profitable, safe, efficient and sustainable airlines. The outcomes of this AGM must set the direction for even more effective global connectivity,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.
Chairperson of the Board of Directors, Pegasus Airlines, and Chair of the IATA Board of Governors Mehmet T. Nane said: “We are enormously proud to be hosting our industry partners in the great city of Istanbul and look forward to welcoming everyone here for the IATA AGM, particularly as we look ahead to our 100th aircraft milestone on the 100th anniversary of Republic of Türkiye later this year. Aviation came together to assist the people of Türkiye to rebuild after the tragic earthquake in February. Now aviation comes together to debate vital issues concerning our pathway to net-zero CO2 in 2050, the diversity of our industry, our operational recovery from the depths of COVID, and many other topics.”
World Air Transport SummitThe World Air Transport Summit immediately follows the AGM.ADVERTISEMENTThe ever-popular CEO Insights Panel moderated by CNN’s Richard Quest will feature Greg Foran (CEO, Air New Zealand), Yvonne Manzi Makolo (CEO, Rwandair), John W. Dietrich (President and CEO, Atlas Air Worldwide) and Campbell Wilson (CEO and MD, Air India).
In addition to the updated industry economic outlook, key topics to be addressed include:
A ‘Big Picture’ view of challenges facing the industry with changing energy markets and shifting supply chainsAviation’s contribution to Türkiye’s earthquake recoveryAdvances in sustainabilityLearnings from the 2022 operational challengesA highlight will be the fourth edition of the Diversity and Inclusion Awards sponsored by Qatar Airways. These awards recognize organizations and individuals who are making a difference in helping to drive the industry’s 25by2025 initiative to make the aviation industry more gender balanced.
See the full AGM program
This will be the second time that the AGM is hosted in Istanbul, which last hosted in 2008. Türkiye is rebounding strongly from the pandemic shut down. In 2022 travel to/from Türkiye increased nearly 60% and it is now the 7th largest international passenger market in the world.
“Since we were last in Istanbul, Türkiye has become an incredible global aviation powerhouse. Its carriers are leading the way in regional and international connectivity, and the magnificent new airport puts some other nations’ lack of airport investment to shame. There’s no doubt that Türkiye’s importance to global aviation will continue to grow significantly,” said Walsh.

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Luxtripper has announced the appointment of Alex Marples as its chief commercial officer.
In this newly-created role, he will lead the expansion the commercial teams, setting the stage for the next stage of growth.
With a wealth of diverse leadership experience spanning over 15 years, Marples brings a strong track record in driving commercial growth in fast-moving organisations.
These include time as chief operating officer of at Crowdfunder UK, director of service operations at the Department of Health & Social Care and operations director at Domestic & General.
Luxtripper specialises in tailormade luxury travel for the modern consumer, with a portfolio of experiential, once-in-a-lifetime escapes to all corners of the globe. ADVERTISEMENTFounded by chief executive, Nena Chaletzos, in 2015 to tackle the complexity of planning a luxury holiday, the business built its own innovative technology to make the process of trip building quick and simple, matching busy customers to destinations in seconds and creating multi-component itineraries in a fraction of the time.
Marples said: “I am delighted to be embarking on this fantastic new role. Nena and the board have taken the business to incredible heights over the last eight years, and I have been incredibly impressed by their vision, values and ambition for the future.
“The potential of Luxtripper as it continues to leverage technology to make complex luxury travel planning simple is really exciting, and I’m looking forward to playing my part in developing and transforming the commercial function as we enter this next stage of growth.”

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